Freed "Prisoner of Conscience" Arrives Home to Canada

26 February 2002

Faith in Falun Gong Unshaken After 2 Years Illegal Imprisonment in Chinese Jail

Mr. Shenli Lin Will Tell His Story in a Press Conference

OTTAWA, February 26, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) - After two years of imprisonment and much suffering in a Chinese labor camp, Mr. Shenli Lin, whom Amnesty International called a "prisoner of conscience", is finally a free man as he returns home to his wife in Montreal today. Both Mr. Lin and his wife were detained in China two years ago for practicing Falun Gong. His wife was deported shortly thereafter due to her Canadian citizenship. Mr. Lin says that during his prolonged, illegal detention he was routinely beaten by his captors. He was also subjected to mental torture, forced labour and harsh conditions in the labour camp.

Mr. Lin will recount his experiences at a press conference in Ottawa today. Professor Irwin Cotler, M.P., International Legal Counsel for Shenli Lin's case, will make presentation at the conference.

Both Mr. Lin and Mr. Cotler will be available for interviews following the press conference. Please contact Grace Wollensak (details above) to schedule an interview.

Background Mr. Lin was arrested for appealing for Falun Gong and sentenced to a forced labour camp without trial and was incarcerated for two years. Nobody was allowed to visit him during the entire jail term. He did not receive any of the letters his wife sent him.

Enduring tremendous physical and psychological abuse, Mr. Lin refused all attempts by the Chinese authorities to force him to renounce Falun Gong. As a result, his imprisonment was extended an additional six months following the first 18-month term.

His wife, Jinyu Li, and many fellow Falun Gong practitioners and supporters, have worked tirelessly for his release during the past two years. Shenli Lin's release is indeed a "Canadian Success story." The Canadian voice pooled from all sectors of society calling for justice made a difference!

However, Falun Gong's peaceful appeals will not stop until the persecution stops. To date, the persecution deaths of 370 innocent Falun Gong practitioners have been confirmed; while Chinese government sources estimate the real number of deaths is well over 1,600. An additional 100,000 innocent people still suffer brutal persecution in Chinese labour camps, facing the forced labour, torture, and the possibility of death every day.